This season has become a yearly marker of time. Maybe it’s because we take more pictures around Christmas. Or perhaps it’s the memories as we place handmade ornaments on trees and hang sentimental decorations on the wall. Or as the empty spaces at the table grow.

            As I decorated the tree this year, I found photo ornaments of the boys as toddlers. Handmade ornaments with special messages and dates made me smile. A family picture with my grandma in it brought tears to my eyes. And the clear plastic balls with my sons’ hospital bands and baby hats warmed my heart. Markers of joy. Markers of loss. Markers of time.

            My oldest is thirteen this year. It seems like he just started kindergarten yesterday, yet here we are. One of his stocking stuffers is an electric razor. I’m struggling with this one. How can my first-born little guy be old enough to shave? Seriously, he was just born. Now he’s towering over me, has a deep voice, and hair on his face. I blinked and he looks like a grown man instead of my baby.

            And don’t get me started on the actual baby of the family. His foot is the same size as mine and he’s only nine. Thankfully we have a few years before he catches up with his brother, but he’s not interested in all the little kid stuff anymore. Video games, goofy graphic novels, and Pokémon have replaced PBS cartoons and characters.

            Today, as we celebrate another Christmas season, another year ticks by. One more year of growth. One more year of missing our loved ones. One more year of making new memories with the ones we love.

            Let’s make sure we give our friends and family the best gift this year—our present should be our total presence. We can’t slow down the ticking clock, but we can make every one of the ticks count for something. We can shower our attention. Listen intently. Forgive wholeheartedly. And love completely.

            Merry Christmas.